PARALEGAL DAY – May 18, 2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
We are so pleased to announce that this year's keynote speaker is Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner! Justice Brunner was elected to the Court in 2020. Justice Brunner served as a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas from 2000 to 2005 and on the Tenth District Court of Appeal from 2014 through 2020. From 2007 through 2011, Justice Brunner served as Ohio’s Secretary of State. Justice Brunner is a graduate of Miami University and Capital University Law School.
Please also note that applications for scholarships and nominations for Awards of Excellence close TOMORROW, April 15, 2026. Be sure and get your applications and nominations submitted today!
For all your Paralegal Day needs, please visit the website at https://pacoparalegals.org/
PARALEGAL DAY SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors, without whom we could not have events such as Paralegal Day! Our sponsors for this year include:
The Ohio Reporting Company
Our Family Wizard
Spectrum Reporting
US Legal Support
Veritext
Boerger Investigative Services LLC
Aspen Careers
OBLIC
Lineal/Profile Discovery
We're so glad to have you on board!
ROUND TABLE
Please join us at noon on April 16, 2026 for our Domestic Relations Round Table. In this session, Kendra L. Carpenter, Esq. will join us to discuss "gray" divorces - when couples have reach their retirement years and realize they are not happy in their marriage. It could be that their adult children no longer need the care they once did, leaving the couple alone and wondering if they should continue in an unhappy marriage. This is also known as empty nest syndrome and may lead to a gray divorce. In other cases, spouses feel unfulfilled because of differences in life goals.
The gray divorce rate is increasing in many places, impacting Ohio marriages. Divorcing your spouse after a long-term marriage can create complex issues that newly married couples may not experience. For example, how will you divide retirement accounts or handle health insurance questions? Asset division in gray divorces is also complicated because of the large marital estate. Registration is available on the web site.
LEGAL INSIGHTS
Please join us at noon on Thursday, April 23, 2026 when Lori Wagner, president of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, will update us on the many benefits of NFPA membership and how you can get involved. She'll also bring us up to date on NFPA's new initiatives. Remember, your PACO membership includes membership in the NFPA - come find out what that means for you! Registration is available on the website.
ELECTIONS
Now is a great time to get involved and become more active in PACO! Applications are currently being accepted for the following PACO Board Positions: President-Elect, Vice President, and Treasurer. In addition, there are a variety of Leadership Positions that are available: NFPA Primary Representative, NFPA Secondary Representative, PR Committee Chair, Student Liaison Committee Chair, Job Bank Committee Chair, Mentoring Committee Chair, Elections Committee Chair, Bylaws Committee Chair, Social Media Coordinator, OSBA Paralegal Exam Study Group Sub-Committee, and Photography Sub-Committee. Applications for all of these positions will be accepted through 6PM on May 11, 2026. Please contact Brittany Schwab (brittschwab44@gmail.com) with any questions.
OSBA STUDY GROUP
The OSBA Certification Exam Study Group will meet on April 14, 2026; April 21, 2026; and April 28, 2026 at 6:30PM. Please reach out to Ashley Harris (harris.ashnic@gmail.com) for more information. All sessions are held virtually. The study group is open to all Ohio paralegals planning to sit for the OSBA Certification Exam. There is no cost.
NEWS FROM LASCO
The Legal Aid Society is teaming up with Ohio Means Jobs for an Expungement Clinic on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 9AM to 4PM at 1111 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205. All paralegals are welcome, and the clinic could use lots of help with notarizing forms - so bring your notary stamp and roll up your sleeves! No prior experience or knowledge is necessary. For more information and to register, go to: https://oslsa.wufoo.com/forms/q1y1pnpl0e28jhh/
NFPA NEWS
NFPA's Region III Spring Meeting will be held virtually on Saturday, April 18, 2026 beginning at 9AM. All PACO members are also members of NFPA and all members are welcome to attend this meeting. Come join us at Spring Meeting to learn more about NFPA and how it works for your benefit! There is on cost to attend. For more information or to attend, contact Angie Vohsing at AMVohsing@eastmansmith.com.
Credentialing Program - April 22, 2026 at 12PM EST - This program is being offered at no cost to NFPA members.
Each state's regulations are unique and employers' requirements vary widely due to the many kinds of work that paralegals can do. So, how do you make yourself stand out as an exceptional paralegal? One way is by earning a credential which is widely recognized in the field.
Did you know: NFPA offers two nationally recognized credentialing exams.
• The Paralegal CORE Competency Exam® (PCCE®) establishes your education has prepared you for many types of paralegal work and helps you stand out from others whose schooling and experience are otherwise similar. Those who have passed the PCCE may proudly display the CRP® designation after their name.
• The Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam® (PACE®) is for those with not only a comprehensive education in paralegal studies but also years of practical experience. Earning the RP® designation by passing the PACE Exam shows that you are one of the best in the field!
Learn the ins and outs of these credentialing exams during our overview session on April 22. Register here: https://www.paralegals.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1970855&group=
We are so pleased to announce that this year's keynote speaker is Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner! Justice Brunner was elected to the Court in 2020. Justice Brunner served as a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas from 2000 to 2005 and on the Tenth District Court of Appeal from 2014 through 2020. From 2007 through 2011, Justice Brunner served as Ohio’s Secretary of State. Justice Brunner is a graduate of Miami University and Capital University Law School.
Please also note that applications for scholarships and nominations for Awards of Excellence close TOMORROW, April 15, 2026. Be sure and get your applications and nominations submitted today!
For all your Paralegal Day needs, please visit the website at https://pacoparalegals.org/
PARALEGAL DAY SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors, without whom we could not have events such as Paralegal Day! Our sponsors for this year include:
The Ohio Reporting Company
Our Family Wizard
Spectrum Reporting
US Legal Support
Veritext
Boerger Investigative Services LLC
Aspen Careers
OBLIC
Lineal/Profile Discovery
We're so glad to have you on board!
ROUND TABLE
Please join us at noon on April 16, 2026 for our Domestic Relations Round Table. In this session, Kendra L. Carpenter, Esq. will join us to discuss "gray" divorces - when couples have reach their retirement years and realize they are not happy in their marriage. It could be that their adult children no longer need the care they once did, leaving the couple alone and wondering if they should continue in an unhappy marriage. This is also known as empty nest syndrome and may lead to a gray divorce. In other cases, spouses feel unfulfilled because of differences in life goals.
The gray divorce rate is increasing in many places, impacting Ohio marriages. Divorcing your spouse after a long-term marriage can create complex issues that newly married couples may not experience. For example, how will you divide retirement accounts or handle health insurance questions? Asset division in gray divorces is also complicated because of the large marital estate. Registration is available on the web site.
LEGAL INSIGHTS
Please join us at noon on Thursday, April 23, 2026 when Lori Wagner, president of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, will update us on the many benefits of NFPA membership and how you can get involved. She'll also bring us up to date on NFPA's new initiatives. Remember, your PACO membership includes membership in the NFPA - come find out what that means for you! Registration is available on the website.
ELECTIONS
Now is a great time to get involved and become more active in PACO! Applications are currently being accepted for the following PACO Board Positions: President-Elect, Vice President, and Treasurer. In addition, there are a variety of Leadership Positions that are available: NFPA Primary Representative, NFPA Secondary Representative, PR Committee Chair, Student Liaison Committee Chair, Job Bank Committee Chair, Mentoring Committee Chair, Elections Committee Chair, Bylaws Committee Chair, Social Media Coordinator, OSBA Paralegal Exam Study Group Sub-Committee, and Photography Sub-Committee. Applications for all of these positions will be accepted through 6PM on May 11, 2026. Please contact Brittany Schwab (brittschwab44@gmail.com) with any questions.
OSBA STUDY GROUP
The OSBA Certification Exam Study Group will meet on April 14, 2026; April 21, 2026; and April 28, 2026 at 6:30PM. Please reach out to Ashley Harris (harris.ashnic@gmail.com) for more information. All sessions are held virtually. The study group is open to all Ohio paralegals planning to sit for the OSBA Certification Exam. There is no cost.
NEWS FROM LASCO
The Legal Aid Society is teaming up with Ohio Means Jobs for an Expungement Clinic on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 9AM to 4PM at 1111 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205. All paralegals are welcome, and the clinic could use lots of help with notarizing forms - so bring your notary stamp and roll up your sleeves! No prior experience or knowledge is necessary. For more information and to register, go to: https://oslsa.wufoo.com/forms/q1y1pnpl0e28jhh/
NFPA NEWS
NFPA's Region III Spring Meeting will be held virtually on Saturday, April 18, 2026 beginning at 9AM. All PACO members are also members of NFPA and all members are welcome to attend this meeting. Come join us at Spring Meeting to learn more about NFPA and how it works for your benefit! There is on cost to attend. For more information or to attend, contact Angie Vohsing at AMVohsing@eastmansmith.com.
Credentialing Program - April 22, 2026 at 12PM EST - This program is being offered at no cost to NFPA members.
Each state's regulations are unique and employers' requirements vary widely due to the many kinds of work that paralegals can do. So, how do you make yourself stand out as an exceptional paralegal? One way is by earning a credential which is widely recognized in the field.
Did you know: NFPA offers two nationally recognized credentialing exams.
• The Paralegal CORE Competency Exam® (PCCE®) establishes your education has prepared you for many types of paralegal work and helps you stand out from others whose schooling and experience are otherwise similar. Those who have passed the PCCE may proudly display the CRP® designation after their name.
• The Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam® (PACE®) is for those with not only a comprehensive education in paralegal studies but also years of practical experience. Earning the RP® designation by passing the PACE Exam shows that you are one of the best in the field!
Learn the ins and outs of these credentialing exams during our overview session on April 22. Register here: https://www.paralegals.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1970855&group=